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Welcome to DraftKings Sunday baseball! We have ourselves an 11-game slate on our hands starting at 1:05. There’s another four games later in the night, but they’re on a separate and smaller slate. This 11-gamer has plenty to unpack, though, from and $11k ace to an $7.4 k mid-range gem. We also have five or six offenses that have the potential to explode. There are a lot of pitchers on this slate that are living on luck and could run out at any time.
The Coors Field slate is included that aforementioned late slate, so we’ll at least have some balance with the projected totals. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Braves all hold implied totals over 5 and make for great stacks. Let’s jump in an take a look at each position.
In this article, I will be providing you with my daily fantasy baseball lineup picks for DraftKings on 6/16/19. The lineup picks will range from some of the elite players to mid-priced options and value plays. Be sure to also check out all the Vegas Odds for today's slate. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for sites like FanDuel, and other sports too. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to hit me up on Twitter @VarneyDFS.
DraftKings DFS Starting Pitchers
Brad Peacock, HOU vs. TOR - $8,800
Pitching is a bit weird tonight. On the high end, Trevor Bauer should dominate the Tigers. He's just super expensive on DraftKings and you don't need me to tell you to play him if you have the funds. We'll instead save some funds and take a look at the biggest favorite on the slate, Brad Peacock. Peacock and the 'Stros are currently -220 favorites and the Jays are projected for just 3.36 runs. Peacock is striking out 24.4% of batters and has held a 3.54 FIP. The Blue Jays rank in the bottom 10 against right-handed pitching and strikeout 26% of the time. Peacock is affordable and gives you a ton of freedom on DK.
Dakota Hudson, STL @ NYM - $7,400
There is no way Dakota Hudson should be so cheap here. First things first, he strikes out 30% of righties he sees, so the upside is plentiful. The Cardinals have also given him the chance to exceed 100 pitches a few times when pitching well. He faces off with the Mets, who rank 22nd in baseball against right-handers and strikeout 25% of the time. Hudson does struggle against lefties, but this match-up against the Mets works out with only three lefties to get by. He's too cheap on DraftKings and deserves attention in all formats. He should be popular as he lets you pay up for big bats.
DraftKings DFS Infielders
C - Carson Kelly, ARI @ WAS (Anibal Sanchez) - $3,800
With Alex Avila on the shelf, Carson Kelly should take over as the starting catcher and man most games for this Diamondbacks team. Kelly, coming from St. Louis for Goldy, is a real talent and the hitting numbers are legit. He already has eight home runs in limited at-bats, and will now be given the position without a leash. Kelly is affordable on DK and makes sense in both formats.
1B - Paul Goldschmidt, STL @ NYM (Jason Vargas) - $4,100
Speak of the devil. The first thing that pops here is the price. There is no scenario where Paul Goldschmidt should be just $4,100 against a bad lefty. The Cardinals face off with Jason Vargas, who has been one of the luckier pitchers in all of baseball and has survived thus far on pure luck. A 5.21 xFIP next to a .304 wOBA is telling on just how lucky he’s been. Goldschmidt has always been a .400+ wOBA hitter against lefties and this year is no different. The cardinals are going to go overlooked and I like them in all formats.
2B - Michael Chavis, BOS @ BAL (John Means) - $4,700
The Red Sox are a team we’re all over tonight. By all means (haha), John Means has been a good pitcher this year. He’s keeping the bell on the ground and getting enough K’s to survive. Now the problem is the 5.37 xFIP. Righties are driving the ball consistently and balls just keep finding gloves. This Red Sox team is on fire at the plate and I expect Means to really struggle here. Chavis in the leadoff hole has been great and obviously the .450 wOBA sample size is all we have for now. He’s been great since getting called up and is a must if you’re stacking the Sox.
3B - Josh Donaldson, ATL vs. PHI (Cole Irvin) - $4,000
The Braves are another team in a phenomenal spot that we just haven’t touched on yet. Facing off against Cole Irvin (L), all of the righties are in play and you can fit up to four. Irvin will eventually be good, but he’s nowhere near ready for the majors with a 6+ xFIP allowed to right-handers. He’ll be lucky to last four innings against them team that happens to rank in the top seven against southpaws. Josh Donaldson will be right in the heart of it all and is very affordable on DK. The Braves are a team I’m making sure I have some exposure to.
SS - Didi Gregorius, NYY @ CWS (Odrisamer Despaigne) - $4,100
We haven’t looked at the Yankees yet, but they’re certainly in play. Odrisamer Despaigne is not a gas can, but he’s a below average starter that’s not ready for the majors again. He’s already walking close to four batters down in AAA, so we’ll see how that translates to the Yankees lineup. Didi Gregorius has come off the IL and is seeing everything. He’s driving the ball to all fields and has always been a lot better vs right-handers. The Yankees are expected to put up 5.5 runs tonight, so Didi in the middle of the order should be one of your safest options.
DraftKings DFS Outfielders
J.D. Martinez, BOS @ BAL (John Means) - $5,400
If you're going to pay up for an outfielder, J.D. Martinez is you best bet. Four home runs in the last three games isn't the reason why, but it certainly doesn't hurt for a guy that's always been streaky. Martinez has finally come around this year and his wOBA is sitting over .400 against left-handers. John Means has been living on luck and this gauntlet of red hot Red Sox should put an end to that. If you have the funds, J.D. Martinez is one of the top bats of the night.
Yordan Alvarez, HOU vs. TOR (Trent Thornton) - $4,600
It's clear on how you want to target Trent Thornton. With a great slider, he's devastating to righties with a .285 wOBA and 9 K/9. I'll steer clear of the stack. Against lefties, however, it's a completely different story. He's allowed a .361 wOBA and seven home runs in just 30 innings. He doesn't have a good changeup and his curveball is being smacked around at a .400 wOBA clip. Yordan Alvarez has obviously been insanely impressive with a home run in 4 of his first 5 games, but it's not a fluke. He's already hit 30 on the season and his price should keep the masses off of him.
David Peralta, ARI @ WAS (Anibal Sanchez) - $4,100
David Peralta is a bit too cheap. Anibal Sanchez continues to be one of the most frustrating pitchers in the league, but his peripherals tell us that's he's not good at all. A 5.07 7xFIP next to a .250 is just laughable. You know the impending doom is coming and I would like to be a part of it with this tough Diamondbacks lineup. They always hit righties well and Nationals Park is a great ballpark for hitting. Peralta is a solid option in all formats.
